Daniel Craig talks Skyfall for Total Film

The next issue of Total Film will give Bond fans some solace next month as ‘Skyfall’ fronts the Summer issue.  Daniel Craig has given an interview on his 3rd James Bond outing, which is for the time being, strictly confidential. But for now, let CBn tease you with a little snippet…

Licence to thrill as James Bond shoots back onto Magazine Stands.

When asked how himself and director Sam Mendes decided on Skyfalls tone, Craig said.

“I reread the books, he read the books, we watched the movies, we talked about the Roger Moore movies, the Sean Connery movies, the whole thing. There’s a sort of tone that’s in all those movies that you can’t try to recreate. If you do, then it’s a pastiche. Neither Sam nor I want to make a pastiche of an older movie. But you have flavours of it.”

On prepping Skyfall during the MGM crisis, Craig said:

“The MGM thing was a silver lining situation where, for the first time, we had a lot of time to work on the script. We weren’t publicly allowed to say we were doing anything, but we were secretly meeting. It wasn’t full bore until everything was given the green light, but we were very optimistic it would happen.”

Little else is known about the contents of the article, but unseen pictures have been promised. So make sure you pick up the next issue of Total Film, to read the rest of the interview and get unseen global access on Skyfall and James Bonds golden anniversary.

New Skyfall image released

A new image from the latest James Bond epic ‘Skyfall’ was released last night. The image is thought to be from the latest issue of Total Film, which is featured extensively in the next issue. The image shows a suited Bond, brooding in the National Gallery, a location which is featured in the 23rd James Bond adventure. Make sure you all keep your eyes peeled for the July issue of Total Film, as more unseen pictures are set to be released.

Skyfall is released October 26th 2012.

Thanks to Marketto007 for the alert.

Skyfall videolog: Costume

In the latest official videolog, costume designer, Jany Temime, talks about how she worked with Tom Ford on suiting up 007 for Skyfall.

Omega announces Skyfall Seamaster watch

Omega are to produce a special edition Seamaster watch to conincide with the release of Skyfall in October.

5,007 of the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M SKYFALL watches will be produced, which feature the 007 logo in place of the number 7 on the watchface.

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Sony will return

Sony Pictures and MGM announced a distribution partnership today that includes future James Bond films, notably Bond 23 and presumably (at least) Bond 24. Also included in the deal is Daniel Craig’s next project The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as well as a remake of Total Recall, both of which MGM will now co-finance.

“After successfully working on the re-launch of the James Bond franchise with Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, we could not be more proud or privileged to continue our association with Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson, Daniel Craig, and the talented teams at EON and MGM.”
-Amy Pascal

For more inside news on the deal check out Deadline’s writeup. MGM’s press release below.

Press Release

LOS ANGELES, CA., April 13, 2011 – Sony Pictures Entertainment will remain in the James Bond business after reaching an agreement with MGM to co-finance and theatrically market and distribute Bond 23 worldwide, it was announced today by MGM Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum and Sony Pictures Chairman and CEO Michael Lynton and Co-Chairman Amy Pascal. Sony will release the next film in this iconic franchise on November 9, 2012 throughout the world except for select International territories, where MGM will directly oversee distribution.

Sony Pictures and MGM look forward to Sony Pictures co-financing and distributing Bond 24 on a similar basis.

Additionally, MGM and Sony Pictures have agreed to explore co-financing opportunities on future motion pictures produced by each of the respective studios for the next five years.

The two studios have collaborated directly and indirectly in recent years on numerous films, including Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, 21, Yours, Mine and Ours, The Pink Panther, and the forthcoming Kevin James comedy Zookeeper.

The announcement of the agreement to distribute Bond 23 adds another high-profile title to Sony’s 2012 slate, which also includes Men in Black 3 and The Amazing Spider-Man, as well as I Hate You, Dad, starring Adam Sandler, Here Comes the Boom, starring Kevin James, 21 Jump Street, Resident Evil 5 and Total Recall.

“Sony Pictures is the ideal studio partner for us as MGM re-enters the filmmaking business. We have longstanding relationships with Michael and Amy and look forward to what promises to be a prosperous future together,” said Barber and Birnbaum.

“In addition to working together on Bond, this deal expands our relationship with MGM as we explore co-financing opportunities on other high-profile projects,” Lynton said. “Gary and Roger are incredibly thoughtful and experienced leaders who are outstanding creative executives and respected moviemakers. While we are excited to be back in the Bond business, we also look forward to future collaborations and I am confident that this agreement will be long-term, lucrative, and beneficial to both studios.”

“After successfully working on the re-launch of the James Bond franchise with Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, we could not be more proud or privileged to continue our association with Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson, Daniel Craig, and the talented teams at EON and MGM,” said Pascal.

When Sony released Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, the films had record-high grosses for the Bond franchise, with Casino Royale taking in $599 million in worldwide ticket sales and Quantum of Solace generating $577 million.

Roger Deakins is Bond 23's likely cinematographer

Roger Deakins is one of the most respected cinematographers in the business. He’s one of the best. How respected? He’s been nominated for 9 Academy Awards. True he’s never won one, but that could all change this year. Deakins is up again for his work on True Grit and could very well be headed to Bond 23 for his next project according to an interview with Collider.

[…] when I asked him about what’s coming up next, he said, “I’ll probably do a film with Sam Mendes next.” When I asked him if that meant he was shooting Bond 23, he said, “it might, yeah.”

Deakins has worked with director Sam Mendes before. Recently he worked on Revolutionary Road in 2008.

Curious what films Deakins’ was nominated for?

• True Grit (2010)
• The Reader (2008)
• The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
• No Country for Old Men (2007)
• The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001)
• O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
• Kundun (1997)
• Fargo (1996)
• The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Bond 23 will be released on 9 November 2012. The film will be directed by Sam Mendes from a script written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan. So far Daniel Craig and Judi Dench are the only actors known to be cast.

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MGM distribution deal includes Bond 24

More details about the Sony-MGM deal have come to light. Under the deal not only would Sony get the distribution rights to Bond 23, but Bond 24 as well according to the LA Times. Sony will fund half of Bond 23 and 25% of Bond 24. As suspected, the deal also includes theatrical distribution of other MGM films including Dan Bradley’s remake of the 80’s cult classic Red Dawn which has been completed.

Additionally, MGM’s huge library of 4,000 films will be taken over by Sony for home distribution which should include the entire James Bond franchise. Currently those rights are held by 20th Century Fox.

Bond 23 will be released on 9 November 2012. The film will be directed by Sam Mendes from a script written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan. So far Daniel Craig and Judi Dench are the only actors known to be cast. According to MGM’s Chapter 11 petition filed in November 2010, Bond 24 should see release in 2014.

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Sony takes the lead to distribute Bond 23

We’ve known for quite awhile that MGM wouldn’t be distributing Bond 23 itself. Recent reports linked MGM’s golden egg to Paramount and another to 20th Century Fox. According to Deadline, Paramount has dropped out because they were unwilling to go any lower for the distribution fee and because apparently MGM wanted a piece of another franchise that Paramount didn’t want to give up.

Taking the top spot again is Sony Pictures who is said to be on the verge of sealing the deal. Sony has long sought 007 going back to at least the 90s when they teamed up with Kevin McClory for an attempt at yet another Thunderball remake. They got what they wanted when they teamed up to distribute Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. According to Deadline, Sony’s strategy to win Bond 23 was described at one point as “pleading” and thus have agreed to most of MGM’s demands.

The new deal will likely be a big one. Not only will Sony distribute Bond 23, but they could also get worldwide theatrical rights to other upcoming MGM films and home distribution rights to Bond as well as to other MGM properties. Those home video rights are currently in the hands of 20th Century Fox. Also expect a deal to be announced where MGM will be co-financing a number of Columbia films which should bring MGM some much needed cash flow. The first movie that will likely fall under this deal is David Fincher’s upcoming English adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s novel The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo which also stars Daniel Craig.

One final note is that Freida Pinto from Slumdog Millionaire is mentioned in the article as a potential Bond girl. It’s another rumor anyway.

Bond 23 will be released on 9 November 2012. The film will be directed by Sam Mendes from a script written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan. So far Daniel Craig and Judi Dench are the only actors known to be cast.

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Rumor: Ralph Fiennes linked to Bond 23

There’s good reason why the CBn forums have a “tabloid trash bin” thread. We see tons of these casting rumors all the time and almost all of them are nothing more than trash. The latest one comes from The Daily Mail and links Ralph Fiennes to Bond 23. Yeah, Lord Voldemort himself. Could it happen? Maybe? Javier Bardem has already been approached by Eon Productions to play a villain so already this sounds suspect. If true it would mean Bond 23 possibly has more than one villain. Not unheard of. From Russia with Love, Thunderball, and The World Is Not Enough all had multiple main villains. Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace questionably do too as do a number of others. It could be the same villain with just multiple prospects for the job, though the report says ‘no’ to that. This role is described as “darkly complex” – sort of similar to what Bardem was saying.

So why Ralph Fiennes? The sources says:

“the part is one of extreme complexity and only an actor of great ability and dexterity can take it on — and Ralph’s name is top of our list.“

Sounds suspect.

“I’m told a couple of other major names are being courted for roles in the picture.”

For a Bond movie? You don’t say!

At one point Kevin Spacey was spoken to about doing Bond 23, but he was already gearing up to play Richard III, which Mendes is directing at the Old Vic from June 18.

Wait, what? Now, Kevin Spacey. If that doesn’t reek of tabloid trash. Was Fiennes really at the top of the list? And, wait a minute, how does him playing Richard III in 2011 make him ineligible for a movie that doesn’t really start shooting till 2012. Mendes is even directing this so it’s not like there’s a conflict there…. Whatever.

Although everyone is reporting on this, I think we should have waited for a better source. It could happen. Who knows, but this is why we have that tabloid trash bin.

Bond 23 will be released on 9 November 2012. The film will be directed by Sam Mendes from a script written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan. So far Daniel Craig and Judi Dench are the only actors known to be cast.

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Javier Bardem talks Bond 23 villain

It’s been only a couple days since we last posted about Javier Bardem being offered a role for Bond 23, but today the LA Times got a chance to speak with him about this offer. Turns out the role is indeed for the villain of the film. Bardem sat down with director Sam Mendes to talk it over and came away “intrigued” though he wants to read the script first to ensure the material holds up.

“They’re changing the whole thing, the whole dynamic. I’d be playing Bond’s nemesis, yes, but it’s not that obvious. Everything is more nuanced. It’s very intriguing.”
– Javier Bardem

Bardem also talked about being a fan of the Bond series. “I’m a huge fan of the James Bond saga,” he says, “When I was little, I went watching Mr. Connery doing James Bond with my father. Who in the world would think I’d be in one of those movies?”

Bond 23 will be released on 9 November 2012. The film will be directed by Sam Mendes from a script written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan. So far Daniel Craig and Judi Dench are the only actors known to be cast.

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